Mapping the circular economy: Insights from 2,701 indicators

The circular economy (CE) is widely seen as a path to sustainability, yet it remains unclear whether its indicators fully reflect its overall contribution. Despite rapid growth, current classifications of CE indicators remain fragmented and are often based on limited datasets. To address this, this study maps 2701 CE indicators to provide a comprehensive overview of their thematic and structural distribution. A six-domain framework was applied (covering environmental, economic, social, circularity, technological, and legislative dimensions) and organized into 21 classes and 118 subgroups. To address inconsistencies, a hybrid labeling approach was introduced for classifying data types and economic levels. Results show that CE indicators collectively span all sustainability domains but remain unevenly distributed, with quantitative and meso-level indicators prevailing and micro-level ones underrepresented. Three key insights emerge: (1) large datasets reduce bias in CE assessment; (2) multi-level classification enables clearer interpretation; and (3) binary labeling oversimplifies contextual complexity. Overall, this mapping demonstrates that CE measurement has expanded beyond traditional circularity metrics toward broader sustainability integration, providing a foundation for more coherent indicator development and policy alignment.